Simply Irresistible

Lucky Harbor #1

by Jill Shalvis

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother—a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career—if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes—and mouth—are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Fiction, Christmas

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BACKUP PLAN, is out now, and THE SWEETHEART LIST comes out in June!

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Irresistible is book one in the wonderful Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. I’ve read several books by Ms. Shalvis from her other series and a later one in this series. But because a dear friend gave me the first two books in this series for Christmas, I finally get to see where it all began. This book was simply delightful, from start to finish. I can’t say enough how much I loved it.



Maddie Moore needs to start over. She has gotten out of a destructive relationship in Los Angeles but as a by product, lost her job. She barely knew her mother and was raised by her Dad. But, her mother unexpectedly passed away and left Maddie one third of an inn in the very small town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Maddie has spent little time with her two half sisters, Chloe, the youngest, and Tara, the oldest. But they are all meeting to spend a few days at the inn and decide what to do. Maddie sees this as an opportunity for a new life, new town, new job. But majority rules. Will her sisters agree or want to sell?



Jax Cullen used to be a cut throat attorney in Seattle. He slowly was losing his very soul to the job and didn’t like who he had become. One very tragic event helped him to decide to walk away. So he moved back to his home town of Lucky Harbor and started building things which is what he loved. It’s been five years and he is slowly coming back to himself but he hasn’t allowed himself to really care for a woman. And then Maddie walked into his life. Maddie was funny, clutzy, sweet, and most definitely had something in her past. She was skittish and all the evidence was there that she had been hurt. Jax was a very patient man, though.

The inn is in bad shape and the three sisters decide that before they can make a decision as to whether they will sell or stay, they at least need to make basic repairs. So, a contractor needs to be hired. And guess who the best contractor in town is? Mr. Hottie himself, Jax Cullen.



Jax pursues Maddie persistently and slowly builds her back up. Maddie has sworn off men but Jax most definitely makes her rethink that strategy. These two together were as sweet as they could be. Jax was everything you could want in a Hero. And the more you get to know him, and see the things he has done for the town, you will love him even more. Still, there are some things he doesn’t share with Maddie and she knows he is holding something back.



Not only will you fall in love with Maddie, but with her two sisters as well. And with Jax’s two best friends, Ford and Sawyer. The next two books in the series will focus on them. This is one of those books you just can’t put down but you also don’t want it to end. You will fall in love with this sweet town and it’s residents. And you will love Maddie and Jax. If you haven’t read this yet, I so hope you’ll give it a try. I can’t wait to start book two, The Sweetest Thing.

“I came to Lucky Harbor out of obligation, but really, I was looking for something.”
“Did you find it?”
“Yeah, I found it.”

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and don’t waste your time reading reviews. Just skip them and go buy this book. Just do it. But if you just can’t help yourself, if you simply must read a review, I’ll give you a little something more.

Simply Irresistible is the first book in the Lucky Harbor series and such a great story. I'm sitting here with this silly grin on my face because it's been a long time since I've read a book, any book, that had me smiling, giggling, sighing and fanning myself as much as this one did. Simply put, Simply Irresistible is a wonderful, funny, sexy, romantic, feel good story!

I went to sleep thinking about this book and woke up thinking about it. The hero, Jax, is the kind of man that you really could find in Anytown, USA, and the heroine, Maddie, is a real woman. The kind with curves, flaws and insecurities... someone we can all relate to.

The bottom line - I repeat - don't waste your time reading all the 5 star reviews when your time can be better spent reading Simply Irresistible! Save yourself the time and trouble of having to kick yourself later for having not read it sooner, and just go buy this book. Now.

[Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Do. Not. Resist. This. Book! READ IT. NOW!!! FOR THE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE JAX CULLEN, ALONE! JILL SHALVIS ROCKS!!!
(I decided to repeat this straight up top, instead of waiting till near the end of my review. LOL)

Zosia, Thanks for your review of this, which made me want to read it!

After the amazing yet emotionally intense and tumultuous experience of The Bronze Horseman Trilogy, I needed a light and humorous yet-still-touch-me-emotionally kind of romance, set during the Holiday Season. And SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE was just what I needed for my Christmas beach holiday read! What a JOY to read! I really enjoyed Jill Shalvis' writing style.

Simply Irresistible is the story of sweet, klutzy, adorable Maddie Moore, with her curly, wild blonde hair, who returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, after losing her job and boyfriend. Maddie and her two half-sisters, Tara and Chloe, have inherited their free-spirited mother’s inn by the sea, Lucky Harbor Resort, which is in serious need of repairs and TLC.



Maddie "the Mouse", determined to make a new start, sees the potential for a new home and career in the inn. The challenge will be in convincing her two sisters to let her, considering one of them wants to sell and the other is undecided. I really loved seeing the relationships grow and develop between these three very different sisters, who never spent much time together while growing up, having been raised apart. It was very heartwarming.

The other challenge will be in resisting the HOTTIE she meets, considering she has completely sworn off men... for now, anyway. While driving to the resort along a narrow, winding road, munching on salt and vinegar chips, Maddie almost runs over a tall, broad shouldered “Hot Biker Guy”, with wavy dark brown hair and caramel eyes.



I really liked the “meet cute”, as it would be called in a Rom-Com :-). After Maddie apologises, and “Hot Biker Guy” picks off half a salt and vinegar chip from her sleeve, Maddie decides she needs a way to escape from this awkward situation…

“What she needed now was an exit plan. So she put the phone to her ear, pretending it was vibrating. “Hello,” she said to no one. “Yes, I’ll be right there.” She smiled, like look at me, so busy, I really have to go, and, turning away, she lifted a hand in a wave, still talking into the phone to avoid an awkward goodbye, except –

Her phone rang. And not the pretend kind. Risking a peek at Hot Biker Guy over her shoulder, she found him brows up, looking amused.”

Haha! Nice try, Maddie! ^o^ This book was off to a great start!

Turns out, “Hot Biker Guy” is Jax Cullen, the contractor and master carpenter that Maddie needs to help fix up the inn.



I was smiling and laughing A LOT while reading this, and also had many shivers and tingles from the palpable sexual tension and electrifying chemistry between Maddie and Jax.

"Clearly reading her mind, his mouth slowly curved. “So no interest, and certainly no chemistry,” he murmured, dipping his head to take in the fact that her misbehaving nipples were pressing up against the words BITE ME on her T-Shirt.

“R-right,” she managed. “No chemistry whatsoever.” But then she took a step into him instead of away, and look at that, suddenly his mouth was just there, and her hands were fisting in his fleece hoodie.
How had that happened?"

Jax Cullen is HOT!!! Yes, well deserving of bolded all caps - Not only because of his good looks, but his kindness, intelligence, loyalty, dependability, how much he cares for people, the way he teased and flirted with Maddie, all his light touches, determined to seduce the woman who said she’d sworn off men. I loved the way he was always there for Maddie when she needed him. Jax just SIZZLED off the page in his low slung tool belt, in a very sexy and adorable way.

Here’s a little sample of Jax’s HOTness in a scene where the Jax is chopping some firewood:

'"Um, Jax?"
He glanced over his shoulder.
"You look..." Hot. "Overheated. Probably you should take off your other shirt, too."
"You think?"
Oh, yeah. Not trusting her voice, she merely nodded.
His lips quirked, but he said nothing as he reached up and behind him, tugging the shirt over his head in one smooth, very male motion.
And then he stood before her in those low-slung jeans, tool belt, and nothing else but a gleam of sweat.
"Better," she tried to say, staring at his tatts, but it came out more as a squeak. She was lucky not to be a puddle on the ground. Honest to God, the man shouldn't be allowed to look like that. It just wasn't fair to all the other men on the planet.
Turning to his task, he went at the wood for a while. Maddie backed up to a large wood round and plopped down. After a few minutes, Tara came out with a peace-offering tray of iced tea and glasses. "Oh, sweet Jesus," she whispered, eyes locked on Jax as she sank to the log next to Maddie.'

I was virtually plopping down right along with Maddie and Tara, enjoying this “visual” and needing a cold glass of ice tea, myself, to run along my overheated skin! ^_^

Granted, though I had Ryan Reynolds in my mind as my Jax Cullen, this scene did not have him looking like this:



Well…at least, NOT the crazy eyes! *LOL* But most definitely the ripped, glistening body. *fans self*

His face looking more smouldering, like THIS, in my mind:



OOooooohhhh…..YEEEEEAAAAHHHHH…… @_@

And playful, flirty and amused, like THIS:



And just in case you’re still having trouble picturing the delicious Jax Cullen with his sexy tool belt and low slung jeans….



“If I looked like him,” Tara said. “I’d want to have sex with myself. All the time.”

Did your eyes just go hazy? Yeah, I know, Jax has that effect…

But I digress….

If you are after a really fun, romantic and sexy Contemporary Romance, with a lovable cast of characters, which will make you smile right down to your toes (well, make your toes curl, in any case), then Do. Not. Resist. This. Book! READ IT FOR THE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE JAX CULLEN, ALONE! And while this is set during the Holiday Season, you need not (should not) wait until December 2011 to enjoy this. Jax Cullen is a gift to be enjoyed, no matter the time of year!

Speaking of gifts, here's a Jax Cullen hand towel gift. Great for those... overheated... moments. ^_^



I am very much looking forward to Tara’s book, The Sweetest Thing, coming out on 1st April 2011... and reading more of Jill Shalvis' books, since this was my first, but will certainly not be my last.

Jill Shalvis had some lovely inspiration during the writing of Simply Irresistible. Here's the link to her website on "The Making of Simply Irresistible":
http://jillshalvis.com/making-of/simp...

The Lucky Harbor Series:

1.Simply Irresistible
2. The Sweetest Thing - My Review Here
3. Head Over Heels - My Review Here
4. Lucky in Love – Release May 22, 2012
5. At Last - Release July 2012
6. Forever and a Day – Release August 2012

eBooks:
Anthology: “Kissing Santa Claus” in the anthology A Small Town Christmas (Logan, Tara’s ex-husband’s story)
Heating Up the Kitchen: Recipes With Love from Lucky Harbor (Recipes by Tara)

DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted on: Swept Away By Romance

4 to 4 1/2 stars

I loved this book! Loved it!

Simply Irresistible is my first experience reading a Jill Shalvis book and it certainly won't be my last! I'm still baffled by how long it's take me to read one of her books.

Simply Irresistible is a sweet, flirty, feel good romance overflowing with wonderful characters, humor, romance, and a swoonalicious hero that deserves to be called a hero.

Oh, how I love Jax! He's everything I admire in a hero! The heroine, Maddie, was an oxymoron for me. She was as charming and lovable as she was frustrating. Her battle with her insecurities drove me slightly crazy but also endeared me to her. But where this book really shined for me was in the complex relationships and the sharp-tongued yet warm-hearted banter that the author created between the three sisters, Maddie, Tara, and Chloe. Their hilarious interactions with each other were some of my favorite parts of this story.

Simply Irresistible was an absolutely delightful read. This feel-good book was exactly what I needed. The ending was heart-warming and left a huge smile on my face. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I didn't mean to take over a week to finally review this. Blame the holidays.)

It's the mother sister of all "what exactly does he see in her?" stories.

One of these days, I'm going to find a book where the hero just straight-up admits that he found the heroine "sexy as hell." I can buy that. I can buy insta-lust. What I can't buy is the hero being intrigued for no apparent reason.

SHE RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD WHILE HE WAS ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AND HE WAS INSTANTLY HOOKED.

Does this even make sense to anyone?

So you'd think...okay, maybe this Maddie chick will do something spectacular to make up for her carelessness of running this guy off the road.

1. She almost didn't stop after running him off the road.
2. She had potato chips all over her shirt.
3. She lied about being on the phone while driving.
4. The next time she saw him, she was being a klutz...as well as the time after that. Because, you know, almost knocking someone's bike over is sexxxay. So is falling on your ass.

Yeah, this chick's a winner.

GTFO of here. Really?

Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if the hero wasn't drop-dead gorgeous. And a bartender. And a handyman. And the mayor. And filled every single job in the town, single-handedly making every woman want him. So naturally, he picks careless-driving, potato-chip-wearing, ass-falling, klutzy girl.

JUST ADMIT ALREADY THAT YOU THOUGHT SHE HAD NICE BOOBS AND YOU WANTED TO TAP THAT. Because I didn't find Maddie to be charming or cute in any way.

And...the author's version of comedy (at least I hope that's what it was) was putting the heroine on a washer/dryer to uh...relieve herself. While the hero walks in.

Womp womp.

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 "Hot tool belt" Stars!



As always when I finish a book I have the same struggle: what to read next. I saw this series, and I know it is quite known by my GR friends, so I decided to start reading it! I am so glad I did!!

Simply Irresistible is the first installment of the Lucky Harbor series written by Jill Shalvis. This novel introduces three sisters who have the same mother (Maddie, Tara and Chloe) and how now they have inherited a 'resort' in a little village in Washington. This is the story of Maddie Moore (the middle sister, a woman who has just been fired and also who had an abusive boyfriend, and who decides to give the resort a chance and re-organise everything) and Jax Cullen (the hot biker she meets when she arrives in Lucky Harbor and who happens to be the contractor she just hired to help renew the house).

“I’ve heard that LA women are pretty aggressive in their pickup tactics. But this just might be one for the record books. You should probably just save us both some trouble and ask me out directly.”
“Hey, I didn’t nearly run you over on purpose. And I tripped on the bike trying to read the sign.”
“Ah, but you don’t deny the attempting to pick-me-up part.” He nodded. “You want me bad.”

I really enjoyed Jill's writing and her characters. It reminds me of Lauren Layne's style and also how she is able to make us love the people in her stories. I loved the interactions between the sisters, the ones with our three guy friends (Jax, Ford and Sawyer), the ones with the people of Lucky Harbor and, obviously, the ones with the main couple ;)

“He has superpowers,” Maddie said, nibbling on her thumbnail.
“Yeah?” Clearly fascinated, Chloe took another peek. “Like being hot as hell?”
Tara lightly smacked Maddie’s hand from her mouth. “What does he want?”
“I’m going to guess SpongeBob Pants here,” Chloe murmured, still looking at him.
Maddie pushed her away from the window so she could take her own look. “Oh, my God,” she whispered.
On the porch, Jax turned his head and gave her a slow, mischievous wink, making her jump back as if he’d bitten her. “Oh, my God.”
“She’s starting to repeat herself,” Chloe said to Tara, who took her turn at the window.
“Oh, sugar.” Tara took her time looking him over. “You’re not ready for the likes of him.”
“I hate to agree with her on anything,” Chloe said to Maddie. “But she might be right on this one.”

They are so funny together these three!! haha I cannot wait to read Tara and Chloe's stories (which I am sure will be with Ford and Sawyer, yaaaay!!!). I really liked the familiarity of the characters and the building of Maddie and Jax's relationship. These two were so cute and they have amazing sexual tension and chemistry! OMG, I want a Jax Cullen for myself!! He sure can make chocolate shake and a tool belt look VERY HOT.

“You going down?” Maddie asked him.
His eyes flamed. “Any time.”
Much as she hated to admit it, Tara had been right. He was out of her league. She grabbed her sweatshirt and turned to go downstairs to open the door for the dog herself, but he reeled her in until she was up against him, her back to his front. “Remember this place,” he said, voice low. “Remember where we are. Right here, this very spot.”
“You keep taking those steps back,” he said. “Not enough forward.” Turning her in his arms, he lightly brushed his lips over hers before pulling back to meet her gaze. “Save our place,” he said quietly, all signs of teasing gone.

Also, I am in the mood for some Christmas themed books so this was perfect! I think this will become one of those familiar and sweet series that I will really enjoy. I cannot wait for moree!! I really enjoyed the story and the characters!

“Did I ever tell you,” he murmured, dropping to his knees to press a kiss to her bruised hip, “that I’m pretty convinced you have your own superpowers?”
“What are they?”
“The power to get past all my walls…”

Therefore, my rating for Simply Irresistible is 4.5 STARS because I am really liking Jill's writing but I did not rate it with 5 stars because I really miss not having epilogues in books. I always wantt more haha Despite that, I totally recommend reading this because I am sure this is a good way to start with this author and also a good way to start a great series! :)

CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

2.5 Stars

In one day Maddie dumped her boyfriend and got fired from her job. When news arrives that her recently deceased mother has left an inn to Maddie and her two half-sisters she can’t imagine better timing for starting over. Unfortunately when she makes it to the Lucky Harbor Inn in Lucky Harbor, Washington she discovers her sisters do not share Maddie’s interest in running the inn, but want to sell and get back to their own lives ASAP. Especially when they actually get to the inn and discover . . . .



Okay, maybe not that bad, but definitely in need of some work. Enter Jax. Handyman by day and . . . . well, you’ll find out everything you need to know about him if you choose to read the book. Not only is Jax adept at the hammer, but Maddie quickly discovers that . . . .



However, she’s sworn off men and she’s only going to be in town for a few weeks anyway so she definitely doesn’t need any complications. Right????

So there you have it. I moused over to the porny library site immediately after reading Karen update about some shower sexuals that had my glasses fogging up. I had never heard of Jill Shalvis before, but apparently she’s written about eleventy thousand books because the library had a good 20 or 30 available in Kindle format for request. This one ended up being just okay for me, but let me ‘splain myself and you might find my problems aren’t going to be anything that would deter your enjoyment.

I loved the idea of these three sisters who hadn’t grown up together/didn’t really know each other getting thrown together as their mother’s last wish and taking over the inn. I realize this was the first in a series and Shalvis probably already knew what direction she wanted to take, but for me there was waaaaaaaay too much ado about nothing when it came to the other two being so desperate to cut and run. It was pretty obvious that wasn’t going to be the end result.

My main issue, though, had to do with the tired trope. I realized things were going South when (despite the quality bathing ritual mentioned above), my husband walked in to the reading room and asked . . . .



I am not a fan of the left an abusive relationship and the only thing that will make me whole again is this fella and his penis because . . .



These broads need therapy and a lot of it. They don’t need to get banged. And yes I know it’s all fantasy, but this particular blend of tea isn’t very palatable to me.

I’m also missing a couple of chromosomes so every time the leading male’s (who was basically the wet dream of any woman who has ever swooned over a Nicholas Sparks leading male) name Jax was mentioned my brain kept thinking things like . . . .



To remind me that Jax is NOT a super saccharine pansy boy like I was supposed to be thinking of.

Then there was the leading lady Maddie Moore, which my brain insisted on calling Mandy Moore. And while I realize Mandy Moore is in a television show that maybe I’m one of only 10 women in America NOT tuning into every week, in my head she’ll always be . . . .



Actually, it would have been so much better if she was a little more aggressive.

Anyway, for the above reasons this one ended up being “just okay” for me (hence the middle-of-the-road rating), BUUUUUUUUUUT I would read more of this series (1) assuming the storyline actually progresses at more than a snail’s pace – if you have read it and know that it doesn’t do me a solid and let me know (2) I want to see what happens when the inn is reopened and (3) I want Tara and Chloe to make all the sex with Ford and Sawyer.

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Irresistible Stars.

Maddie broke up with her boyfriend and lost her job in a short amount of time. So without anything tying her to LA, she goes to Lucky Harbor to meet with her sisters and try to re-open the Inn their mother left them when she died.
That’s when she meets Jax, the sexy contractor she hired to fix the Inn and things got well, heated.
And as they say, never mix pleasures with business…



I’ve never read anything from Jill Shalvis before, but I can definitely say that I will read more from her. This was a sweet, steamy and funny romance that left me with a heartwarming feeling in the end. When you need a break for those gut wrenching books, this is probably a great option.




Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters Development: I loved Jax. He’s broody, sexy, sweet and alpha and basically everything we want in a hero. Maddie surprisingly was very little annoying, yeah, she was stubborn sometimes but she was fierce and loyal and I liked her. Loved the guys and the sisters. What a great group of supporting characters. I can’t wait to read their stories.
Steam: Hot.
Sensible Subjects: No.
Love Triangle: No.
Cheating: No.
HEA: Yes.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy tool belt! What a wonderful read. My eyes were glazed and I had a stupid grin on my face the whole time reading this book. A very HOT Jax Cullen would do that to you. Then again so will Ford or Sawyer.



Maddie the Mouse kinda reminds me a bit of Sandra Bullock in 'While You Were Sleeping'. She was all klutzy, shy and awkward but in a cute way of course. Maddie, Tara and Chloe together were a lethal combination, they just cracked me up.

Simply put, I loved this book. Heading out to Tara's story now. And I'm sure the said stupid grin is already on my face.

[Jo ★The Book Sloth★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Cute Stars

I honestly came to love this series from the first book but I really can't review all these books... Okay I can but I'm kind of bored. So I'll just pick some of my favorite Phoebe-isms for this review.

Smile...it makes people wonder what you're up to.

Experience is something you get… after you need it.

Learn from the mistakes of others you won't have time to make them all yourself.

Obeying the rules might be smart, but it's not as nearly as much fun.

[Limeminearia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is incredibly dumb. Why is the protagonist so obsessed with her love interest's henley (a long sleeved t-shirt) that she mentions specifically that he's wearing a henley at least four times? I thought that I'd made it past the last henley mention, then BOOM, the stupid henley/jeans outfit description popped up again in the last few pages. Sometimes he even wears a "graphic henley." Also, why must they run into each other every thirty seconds so that he can discuss the depth of his feelings. Was it not sexy enough that he is physically perfect, but he also has to be a contractor (who makes all the furniture and stained glass in his homes himself, by hand) and a lawyer and a bartender and THE MAYOR of the effing town and part owner of most businesses? At one scene in the local diner the townspeople literally call out his virtues including that he personally bought flak jackets for the police from his own wallet. HE IS SELFLESS. HE IS HOT. GET IT??????????????

Other crazycakes stuff in this book:
-The protagonist's southern sister is named Tara and her indie sister is named Chloe
-It only takes a few weeks to totally renovate a house with just one person working (stopping often to moan about the unspeakable, unprecedented, total emotional and sexual arousal the potato chip-eating main character constantly causes him)
-Each chapter starts with a supposedly witty or touching quote from the sisters' mom and they are all just the dorkiest possible cliches
-Even though this is a book for adults and people are sexin' it up somewhat explicitly, the author is maddeningly coy about mentioning lady body parts. "She felt a tug in that place below her belly button. Yoooooooooouu know the place. Yeah, that place. A few inches below the belly button. No, not that way. Straight down. If you know what I mean. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink."
-This is the first in a series

This is only sexy stuff if you think pushing paper dolls together and having them say ridiculous shit about how they can never trust again is hot. Then again, this is a bestselling author and the book has a great cheesy movie-type premise. So somebody must love it.

I had to read it for work and I'm glad I did. It highlighted for me that I need to read more romance novels so that I can find ones that I like better, to recommend.

ps- Why, if this town is the coziest, safest, most romantic little village in Washington State*, did the police need flak jackets? And if there really is a serious need for flak jackets why did a private citizen have to buy them with his own money? Shouldn't the mayor have helped take care of that? OH WAIT. The love interest is also the mayor. Perhaps he was too busy making stained glass and being emotionally available to apportion the funds.


ps thanks, Kelly, for pointing out that my original review had the setting wrong.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Washington State Pacific Coastline
★★★★½ Wonderful book and just what I needed right now after reading about the murder of -- not one -- but two beloved characters in another series. Ms. Shalvis has long been a favorite author, and she knocks it out of the ball park with this one, a story of three sisters who inherit an inn. With plenty of humor and hilarity; frustration, fights, fears, and tears; secrets and sizzling sex.

But, it is not all that chick-lit-ish. It’s a romance! Both Maggie and Jax are trying not to get too serious – well, actually, Maggie has given up men. JS does a great job of letting us into a hot, sigh-worthy hero’s thoughts too; if Jax’s are yummy, Maggie’s are funny. Jax's superpower is reading Maggie's mind:

She should have chosen sex. Note to self: always choose sex over physical labor!

"It's not too late," he said very softly.

I'll save the scene about her thoughts while she's checking out Jax's tush in the attic for you to discover for yourself.

Plus, if I haven’t missed the boat, I think his “brothers” feature in the rest of the series, to match up with her sisters. Speaking of which, if the first in the Lucky Harbor series is this good, I can only hope the rest can follow suit.

[Dija · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Buddy read with Brit! You can read her review here.*

I generally tend to love small town romances, but I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters in Simply Irresistible and that mostly ruined my enjoyment of the story.

Maddie is, simply put, a doormat. She regained some of her inner strength by the end, but throughout the story, I didn't really develop any feelings for her. I didn't like her, didn't hate her, she was just there. The only thing we have in common is our love for chips.

Jax is way too perfect with how he fell in love with Maddie at first sight, gave her space, was always there whenever she needed him, didn't push her for answers, cancelled meetings for her, etc. etc. He even built his own house and furniture! Really, this guy couldn't have been more ideal if he'd tried. Or more unrelatable. I would have preferred someone a little bit more human for a hero.

Chloe and Tara seem a lot more interesting than Maddie and Ford and Sawyer more than Jax so I'll definitely be continuing this series and reading their respective books. Overall, Simply Irresistible is a cute yet forgettable read, but the side characters intrigue me enough that I won't be giving up on the series just yet.

For more reviews, visit my blog.

[S.M. West · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Simply Beautiful STARS

This one was a true gem!! I asked for a really sweet, feel good read and this is exactly what I got - Thank you, Alice!



And I also discovered another author to fangirl over and another series (groan – but I love it) to devour.



Jax Cullen and Mandy Moore were great, fun loving characters and the secondary characters were just as appealing. Their story is adorable, romantic and very funny (I couldn't stop myself from laughing in public while reading this)!



The dialogue, the witty and sarcastic banter, the laughs, the chemistry and the sisterhood just got me. I'm already looking forward to Tara and Chloe's books. Lucky Harbour, here I come!

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd rate it 4.5. I'll be reading the next for sure. I didn't fully buy the relationship conflict that came near the end, but the rest of it was funny, hot, and had such likable characters. I'm a sucker for small town romances too. Jax was serious hero candy, and I liked Maddie quite a bit!

The series is based on three half sisters inheriting a run down inn on the coast of Washington. They don't really know each other well, so we see some fun bonding moments. When Jax and Maddie meet it sizzles from the start. This is a light hearted story with some really funny and hot scenes makes this a great beach read kind of book, but there is a nice Christmas theme so a relaxing winter read works too. Enjoy.

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Jill Shavis novel, and I really liked it :)

If you're in the mood for something light, romantic and funny, this is your book :)

The story - This is the first in the series, so we have introductions to all the characters, male and female. There are three sisters who inherited the Lucky Harbour Inn. They're estranged and want nothing to do with the place, all except Maddie. She's had some rough time in her past, an abusive ex, and a difficult job she got fired from. She wants to start life again, and thinks it's meant to be that her sisters and herself are left with the Inn. Jax, Ford and Sawyer are friends, actually something like blood brothers. They're gonna have their own books with the other sisters I think :) Anyway, comming to Lucky Harbour, Maddy almost ran over a biker guy, himself being Jax XD He likes her instantly and they bein to dance around each other :)

Maddy - She's "The Mouse" as they referr to in the novel XD Quite timid, a total klutz, she manages to trip over everything in and out of her way heheh She's swarn off men (yeah right lol) and doesn't want to give in to the attraction she feels with Jax. Of course, that doesnt't work. At all. In between her fighting their chemistry, she's fighting to save the Inn, even though her sisters want to sell it. As time passes they bond as well, and she wants them to finally be a family.

Jax - He's got so many personas it's hard to remember them all XD he's a biker hot guy, bartender, construction worker, lawyer and mayor (I think I forgot something, but hell even this is enough) He's charismatic, loved him with Maddy, every scene was bursting with chemistry :) He knows she's been hurt in the past, and even though she constantly insists they don't start anything, he's very persistent (heheh, go Jax!), and soon even he changes his mind about long-term relationships.

Overall - It was a great read, very funny with a great romance, nothing serious or angsty about it, just pure romantic writing. At times it was extremly funny, I was bursting out laughing more than once, and boy, one scene brought tears to my eyes (from laughing, yes!). It was exactly what I needed to read, and it fulfilled my expectations completely. But still, it's 4 stars, don't know, it didn't rock my world or anything to get a shiny 5 from me, it was lovely and I really really liked it :)

Favorite scenes
- when she almost runs him over, than "talks" on her cellphone, only to recieve an actuall call, oh my I laughed at that hahah
- the sisters decorating the christmas tree hahahah man what an imagination - an eyelash curler as decoration hahahah
- when she calls Jax on the phone asking for his "mastery" hahahah that was just brilliant XDXDXD
- when she sits on the washer (or drier, forgot what it was) and Jax commes in XD

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had higher hopes for these books. I've been debating what to write for reviews for the three I've read so far, and honestly, I think I can probably use the same review for each one. Because here's the story in a nutshell:

Girl inherits dilapidated inn, is reunited with her two half-sisters, meets a guy, can't control her raging hormones, has copious amounts of sex with said guy, resists a relationship because she's an infuriatingly simple-minded moron with the emotional maturity of a toilet brush, has an epiphany, finally admits that her "fling" has a decent foundation, gets over herself.

And they lived happily ever after.

Yup, that's it.

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Click here for my review of The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)

Click here for my review of Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor #3)

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to Simply Irresistible, there are only three things you need to know.

1.) Jax Cullen.
2.) He does not look like this:
3.) He looks like this:

Hmm...still here? You're not running to find a copy of this book yet? Well, in that case...Take 2!

Simply Irresistible, I have to admit, is a resistible piece of work...if you don't open its cover, that is. Once you begin reading this romance novel, you'll be hard-pressed to put it down. From the beginning itself, it's difficult not to become utterly invested in Maddie's tale, one brimming with hope, new beginnings, and past mistakes. Just having gotten out of an abusive relationship and lost her job, Maddie is making her way to the small Washington town of Lucky Harbor where her deceased mother's inn lies. Maddie, with her two half-sisters, now has the responsibility of either running the place - like her mother dreamed - or selling it off.

And yet, nothing in life is so easy. Maddie, for one, is known as the Mouse in the family. As the middle daughter, she is neither the Steel Magnolia that her older sister, Tara, is or the Wild Child that the youngest, Chloe, is either. After having been trampled over and taken for a fool with her ex-boyfriend, though, Maddie resolves to become something more than the Mouse: someone stronger. And it is her unrelenting perseverance to charge forward and face her fears that makes her such a remarkable protagonist. Granted, Maddie has some classic chick-lit qualities - a love of chips, a plumper figure than most, and a klutzy walk to go along with it. Nevertheless, I found that Maddie, with her attitude of trying to be oh-so-brave, still brought something new to the table as far as contemporary heroines go and, all the more, won my heart.

What truly makes the title of this utterly fitting, though, is Jax Cullen. You've already met him; just see the above picture for clarification. (If you're even sitting here and reading this when that face is staring at you!) Jax and Maddie meet when - wait for it - Maddie nearly runs him over with her car, but before she quite knows what's happening, he's asking her out for a drink and their chemistry is just sizzling. Although the romance begins straight off the bat with a whopping dose of attraction, the reason I enjoyed it so much is because Jax and Maddie take time to still get to know one another. For one, Maddie has sworn off the opposite sex after her nasty ex, but Jax slowly breaks down her barriers and wins her trust. Is Jax a little too good to be true? Maybe. After all, even when these two do fight, he's completely willing to make it up to her first. Moreover, he's patient with her skittishness and downright sexy, which makes for a lethal combination. Jax has his own past, full of its own secrets, but the romance in this novel played out perfectly, with just enough tension and care to balance it out and not a drop of unnecessary drama thrown in.

Needless to say, I am already clamoring for the next two novels in this series. Shalvis, first and foremost, is a fantastic writer, something I can testify with her deep exploration of family and self in this story. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the slowly creeping relationship between these three half-sisters. None of them are all that close, but they manage to find the ties of family that bond them together and truly come into their own. I have no doubt that there is still so much more to tell about these women, each strong and weak and brave and vulnerable in their own way. I love just how much there is to their characters and the small town setting of this novel certainly does it many favors as well. All in all, I would definitely say this is one irresistible package. (Especially when there's a thunderstorm raging outside, you're passed out in bed from cramps, and the only thing within arms length is a comforter and your Kindle.) Still don't believe me?

How about now? ;)

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I often say, I'm not a writer or professional reviewer, but I know what I like. This series is light and easy to read. It's very enjoyable for me. This first book is a great start to the series and sets up the cast of characters very well. I love when a story takes place in a town like the one Jill Shalvis has created for this series. It's a town I can connect with and picture easily in my mind. It's a place I'd love to be able to visit. The characters are the same way. Great book!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. What a sweet story. Looking forward to more from this series.

[Saly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Irresistible is the first in the Lucky Harbor series. Maddie who has recently lost her job and dumped her abusive boyfriend makes her way to Lucky Harbor where her flighty mother(she wasn't closed with her and was raised by her father) and her two-half sisters have inherited a resort. Maddie is looking for a change(she no longer wants to be the mouse) and wants a closer relationship with her sisters.
The resort isn't in that great a shape, but Maddie convinces her sisters to give it a shot for a month and that they will try and renovate it. Tara is the older sister, outwardly kick-ass but as we later find out, her life is messed up. Chloe is the youngest and wild. Maddie is sweet and the hero of the book Jax, man he is the best hero ever. He is the mayor, well-off, former attorney, contractor and all-around helper. The romance between Maddie and Jax is so sweet. He is incredible, whenever Maddie's old fears come to the surface instead of walking off in a snit he talks to her, opens up to her. I can't tell you how much I loved this book. It was amazing. It was sweet, fun and lovable.

[SamJ ★Needs a HEA★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent 5 stars!

I came across this series a couple of months back, and bought the first few in the series in one go.

Then they sat on my kindle for the next couple of months and I nearly forgot about them!

Why!! I loved this book.

This book just made me happy! There is no other way to describe it. Happy happy happy! I do not think a book has ever made me feel so warm and fuzzy before!

I think I was smiling or sighing (like aww) throughout this entire book!

The characters are great, the relationships and how they are described and built up, great. It was humorous and fun and light-hearted.

There was not one character I did not like.

Watching the relationship between Jax and Maddie build was lovely! Watching the relationship between the sisters build was even better.

There was no big angsty misunderstanding, no villains waiting in the wings. Just a sweet, funny romance about two people coming together and coming to believe they deserve what is happening.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 ½-5 stars – Contemporary Romance

[Diana~ (Kiss Me Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, if you're looking for a book that will definitely be tugging your heartstrings, look no further. Simply Irresistable is that book! With an irresistable and sexy hero name Jax and a clumsy, soft-spoken, and adorable heroine... I totally fell in love with this book and its characters. The book simply captured me from the very first page and I was dying to see the ending result of Jax and Maddie's relationship. Let's just say that the ending was definitely what I was looking for! *wink* For a contemporary romance novel, Jill Shalvis seriously knows how to pack a punch in the steam department. I mean, wowza. Every touch and moment between the H/hr was to die for and very hot ! I can not wait for Tara and Ford's book, The Sweetest Thing , heh.

The first book to this series is Maddie Moore's story of finally finding a family in her sisters who she cares and loves for... as well as meeting the love of her life in this little town called Lucky Harbor, Washington. After losing her job and finally breaking up with her ex-boyfriend, Maddie decides to start a new beginning in this town and meet up with her two step-siblings to inherit the inn that her mother, Phoebe Traeger, left behind. Too bad the inn happens to be in a terrible state and in serious need of repairs! This will certainly be a challenge when her half siblings don't even want to stay or have anything to do with this inn...

As for Jax and Maddie's first meeting, let's just say that the first time they actually had a conversation with one another, was when she almost ran over him while driving her car! How adorable. In my opinion, their relationship was so real and sweet... and I definitely understand that Maddie was going through. After getting out of a horrible relationship, she needed time before heading into another relationship. Except well, we all know that from the very start, she was doomed when she met Jax. For a small town like Lucky Harbor, he's practically everywhere she goes! Not to mention that he also happens to be the town's mayor? Whoo! Anyway, while going for a walk in town, she ends up meeting Jax again in front of a bar called Love Shack, hah! To make things short, they decided to walk around and Maddie eventually lands a kiss from him. ;)

I loved their relationship. I mean, Jax was sweet, sexy, and very loving towards Maddie. Heck! He was the first one to fall and tell her that he loves her. While Maddie... she did have some TSTL moments, but she eventually saw the light. You can't exactly blame her for being reluctant about being in another relationship since the last one she had was pretty ugly. The chemistry between these two was off the charts though! Wow, they definitely had some hot moments. Either way, for my first Jill Shalvis book, I truly enjoyed and loved it. This one was a 5/5 stars! Tara and Ford's book is next~ hehe.

[Nicole P · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the feels. That is what this book did to me. Made me feel it all. It was sweet and gentle. Difficult and easy. I fell right in love with the hero, Jax. Bless his heart. He was strong and kind and all kinds of wonderful. The heroine Maddie was resilient and clumsy but bursting with love and trust. The two of them together made me sigh and appreciate the art of falling in love. The sisters were as different as night and day and that made their relationships unique and heartwarming. I'm hooked on all the people of Lucky Harbor and will be devouring every book in this series.

[Lyndy Ann ♫ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first visit to Lucky Harbor and I am looking forward to get to know the residents.

Maddie moves to Lucky Harbor to start a new life, meet her two sisters and run the Inn their mother left them.

On the way there she nearly runs a hot biker off the road enter Jax Cullen HOT, SEXY and he has the BIGGEST HEART.

A heart warming story I love Maddie & Jax together.

I will definitely be reading the rest of the Lucky Harbor series.

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a great book, it's almost as if I become incoherent. I lose the ability to adequately express to you how good it was in an articulate manner because what I really want to do is jump up and down clapping my hands in glee. Not helpful, but the excitement should translate. I LOVED this book. More accurate, I LOVED the hero Jax. He shoots up to probably third in my top ten. Which I'm still developing btw, so if any of you out there have heroes you want me to add, send them my way!!!

Maddie is arriving to a small town in Washington to take over an inn that her recently deceased mother has left her and her two half sisters, when she almost runs Jax, our fab hero on a motorcycle, off the road. Once she ensures he is ok, she carries on to the inn and her sisters who she barely knows. They must decide whether to stay and run the dilapidated and money pit of an inn or sell and go their separate ways.

I loved Maddie as well, her struggles were tangible and believable and I also thought she was sorta adorable in her clumsiness. I loved the relationship building that went on between her and her sisters and I related with her as the middle child, as that is where I am in my family as well. It's a unique spot...often very difficult which I found accurately expressed in the book.

But what I really want to talk about is Jax Jax Jax. OMG Jax. Jill Shalvis wrote his character masterfully. I hope that this is the norm for her books because as soon as I can I will be out purchasing her books for more of this 'perfect hero' fix! Every nuance of his character was a thrill to read because I felt as if I could see him so clearly in my mind, reach out and actually touch him, smell him and see the expression in his eyes as she described it. It was such a great reading experience. Especially as a woman to be reading about a man like that. Its hard to put into words how wonderful he was, so I'll just give a couple of examples of what made me fall in love with him.

1. He was always THERE. Every stinkin time Maddie needed him and she didn't even know it, Jax was there. To lend a hand, a shoulder, a wonderfully hot smelling leather jacket. He was just there. She turned around, there he was. She opened her eyes..there..staring deeply into hers. He didn't push, he supported and he was there. He was strong enough, man enough to just be there.

2. He was so loving, so romantic, and so intense and consumed with Maddie it was heart aching..my heart literally ached. It was beautiful. Jill Shalvis showed this intensity in all these great incredible romantic ways. My favorite was how Jax couldn't stop saying Maddie's name. He said her name all the time, over and over and over again. Happily, excitedly, reverently - Maddie Maddie Maddie. It was as if it was all he could do to *NOT* say her name. And when you love someone, really really love someone, don't you say their name all of the time? You can't help it you're so in love you say their name all the time you make friends sick with it. Jax said her name so many times, at the right times, and in oh so the right ways!

3. His love touches. Stroking the underside of her jaw. Cupping the back of her neck. Stroking her cheek. Kissing her forehead, constantly burying his face in her neck, licking and kissing her pulse points. Nibbling her ear, holding her tight. It never stopped with him it was so PERFECT! :-)

4. Sex appeal. Jax Cullen is sex. He walks it, he talks it, he smells like it, his eyes laser beam it into your brain, his hands imprint it into your skin and his mouth...oh the words he says. :-) Maddie's pleasure was more important to him than his own, and that in itself is a testament to the kind of perfect hero Jax is! His intensity with her when they made love was so palpable that I could almost kick Maddie out of the bed and replace her with me, the feelings were so strong! His insistence that she stay with him, feel him, stare into his eyes and acknowledge them, their love, and their union was so.damn.hot. He was utterly consumed with her and her happiness and that just made his sex appeal all the more potent.

Finally, this book was so extraordinarily funny! I laughed and laughed and laughed. I loved the dynamics between the sisters and I just can not wait for the remaining two stories. This is why I always read series when all books have been published. I HATE WAITING!

Off to find more Jill Shalvis books and find out if this one was a fluke or not. God I hope not!!

Check this one out...for the hero alone ladies!

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I will admit that I had never read any of Jill Shalvis’ books before and it was just luck that I happened to stumble upon Jill Shalvis’ “Lucky Harbor” series, with the first book in the series being called “Simply Irresistible!” This book was truly one of a kind when it comes to contemporary romance and I had enjoyed it every second of the way!

Maddie Moore’s life was less than perfect since she had lost her job and her boyfriend all at once after having a particularly horrible day. So, when Maddie finds out that her mother Phoebe Traeger had left her and her two half-sisters Chloe and Tara an inheritance in the form of an inn, Maddie heads on over to Lucky Harbor and meets up with her two sisters, who she had not seen for years. Not only is Maddie trying to bond with her two sisters, but she also ends up meeting a mysterious and sexy man named Jax Cullen and she instantly falls in love with him. But unfortunately, due to her past with her abusive ex-boyfriend Alex, Maddie starts having trouble confessing her true feelings for Jax, while at the same time, Jax is trying to figure out a way to tell Maddie about his dark and troubled past.



Wow! For the first time in reading any of Jill Shalvis’ books, I have to say that this book truly blew me away! Jill Shalvis has done a beautiful job at writing a romance story about opening up yourself to your loved ones and trying to enjoy life any way you can. I really loved this message in this book because there were times in my own life where I would have a rough time trying to do what I really want in a situation and standing by that decision, no matter how everyone else feels about that decision and Maddie’s experience in trying to think for herself really connected with me throughout the story. Probably the best things about this book were the characters themselves as they were memorable and extremely relatable to anyone. I really enjoyed Maddie’s character as she is shown to be extremely determined to stay in Lucky Harbor, despite so many odds going up against her and I really loved the fact that she tries to get out of her shy demeanor and actually take control of her own life. I loved the relationship that Maddie shares with her two sisters Tara and Chloe, as they seem to have an extremely special bond between each other and it is rare that I read a romance novel that not only focuses on the romance of the lead characters, but also focuses on their siblings and shows the importance of sibling relationships. I also loved both Tara and Chloe as they were just as insecure as Maddie, but I loved the fact that they were willing to help out Maddie in staying in Lucky Harbor, even if they wanted to leave Lucky Harbor themselves and I really loved the humorous bantering between the three sisters as they make me giggle every time they tease each other about various things! But man, let us talk about the hero of this story and that is none other than Jax Cullen himself! I seriously love Jax as he is sexy and witty while also being caring and encouraging towards Maddie and I loved the way that Jax supported Maddie throughout the story and tried to help her stand up for herself. Also, the sexy scenes between Maddie and Jax are definitely worth reading over and over again (oh Jax, you wicked boy)!



Anyone who does not like strong language, this novel does contain some strong language, such as the constant use of the “s” word and dropping the “f” bombs. Anyone who might feel uncomfortable reading these words can skim over these words as they read this novel.

Overall, “Simply Irresistible” is truly one romance novel that you have to absolutely check out if you are into sisterly love and a hot hero who is willing to help out the main characters anyway he can!

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[KatLynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new Trilogy by Shalvis about three sisters who inherit a seaside resort from their free-spirited mother. This is my 3rd book by Jill Shalvis and so far the best for me. This book grabbed me from the first page and I fell in love with Lucky Harbor and it's characters. Maddie and her two half sisters have not spent much time together, but now they are meeting in Lucky Harbor, Washington to claim the inheritance left by their mother. The Resort is in need of repairs and Maddie wants to stay and rebuild the inn and her life. She has just lost her job and recently escaped from an abusive relationshiop. Her two sisters want to sell and go.

When she first arrives in Lucky Harbor she nearly runs Jax, a definate hottie,(and a former lawyer, the town mayor, a Master carpenter, and owner of several businesses in town) off the road. The chemistry sizzles between them. Jax is a wonderful hero...smart, sexy,irresistible. I liked how he is so supportive of Maddie and of course how he is so desirous of her..he smolders and can't keep his hands off her..lol

I laughed a lot reading this book. This book was filled with great humor and hot chemistry. It also has tender moments that will pull on your heart strings. It was good to see Maddie and her sisters get to know each other better and watch as Maddie becomes stronger and stand up for herself.

Simply Irresistible is a story of sisters, love, and friendship. I can't wait to read Tara and Chloe's story. I would recommend this to all my friends and family.

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what it was exactly that didn't impress me. I liked Jax enough, the small town romances seem to work with me. Well...for the most part. I found this to lag, though. There were several times I skimmed and skipped, the plot not holding my attention. Maddie got on my nerves as well. I completely understood her hesitation, but she annoyed me and never really won me over.
I'm not sure if I'm invested enough to learn Tara's story, though the hints dropped were intriguing. Maybe being the first in the series, this book isn't as good as the others? Anyway, I'll probably read more by this author having already read and liked, Second Chance Summer.